Lakers and Bucks to make a "strong push" to sign Jimmy Butler

[Tugg Speedman]

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/52306/20150509/los-angeles-lakers-news-rumors-chicago-bulls-superstar-jimmy-butler-to-get-max-offer-from-lakers.htm

Jimmy Butler has emerged as one of the young superstars in the league this season and it will not go unnoticed as he is expected to get a lot offers from teams in the offseason, including from the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to Shams Charania of RealGM, Butler, who averaged 20.0 points to go along with 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 65 regular-season games, will be one of the most coveted free agents after the 2014-15 NBA season even if the Chicago Bulls have the right to match any offer to keep the 25-year-old guard.

Sources indicated that the Lakers, who had their worst season in franchise history this year, will make a strong push to acquire Butler by offering a max contract in the offseason. The Lakers are set to make big moves this summer in the hope of finding another superstar to help Kobe Bryant in his pursuit of another title before retirement.

Aside from the Lakers, the Milwaukee Bucks are also planning to offer a lucrative deal to Butler this summer. Sources indicated the Bucks have a chance to acquire Butler, considering the fact that the 2015 Most Improved Player played college basketball at Marquette.

Chicago can easily keep Butler by matching the offer sheet, but the Bulls have been unpredictable over the past several years when it comes to salaries. They let go of key players, who got bigger offers from other teams.

The Bulls are determined to keep Butler, but they will have to break the bank and show willingness to spend big time for a player outside of Derrick Rose. Earlier in the season, the Bulls offered a four-year deal worth $40 million, but Butler turned it down, which created speculation that he will leave Chicago this summer.

The fourth-year guard clarified, though, that turning down the offer was just a business decision and that he is not demanding a big contract because he feels he is still not a superstar in the league.

"I'm not a star," Butler told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I'm a good role player on a really, really good team, a really, really deep team. I like being a role player. Star has never been next to Jimmy Butler's name. It never will be. I'll always be an under-the-radar dawg."

[Groin_pull]

JB ain't getting away from Chicago. Too bad, it'd be awesome to see him in a Bucks uniform.

[jsglow]

JB ain't getting away from Chicago. Too bad, it'd be awesome to see him in a Bucks uniform.

Totally agree.  The Bulls will match ANY offer. 

[77ncaachamps]

Lakers need him.

and i hate the lakers

[brewcity77]

Jimmy isn't going anywhere. Any article saying otherwise is likely just wasted bandwidth.

[WarriorFan]

The bulls could still do something stupid, like firing Thibs or electing not to match.  They have an amazing capacity for stupid.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

The bulls could still do something stupid, like firing Thibs or electing not to match.  They have an amazing capacity for stupid.

I mean Thibs will be gone. Theres zero question regarding that.

[Groin_pull]

Lakers need him.

and i hate the lakers

Lots of teams need him. So what? Chicago can--and will--match any offer.

[Galway Eagle]

I mean Thibs will be gone. Theres zero question regarding that.

I agree but man if we make the finals, not even win, Chicago will riot for getting rid of Thibs

[chapman]

Max deal to stay is more than the max deal to go.  He'd have to want to get out (he doesn't) and/or have another serious contender and more attractive destination make a push.  If the latter situation exists (I don't think it does), it sure ain't to the Lakers or Bucks.

[Knight Commission]

The "really reallys" came from Buzz...and too his credit...the work ethic as well.

[314warrior]

The "really reallys" came from Buzz...and too his credit...the work ethic as well.

Not to take credit away from Buzz for helping to develop JB, but I think Jimmy always had the work ethic in him.

[GGGG]

I agree but man if we make the finals, not even win, Chicago will riot for getting rid of Thibs

No they won't.  He isn't some kind of beloved figure.

[Tugg Speedman]

The bulls could still do something stupid, like firing Thibs or electing not to match.  They have an amazing capacity for stupid.

+1

Don't under-estimate the Bulls ability to screw this up and drive him into the arms of another team.

Six-months ago the Bulls thought Jimmy was worth $40 mill over 4 years.  Jimmy turned it down.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/28/report-jimmy-butler-turned-down-four-year-40-million-extension-to-stay-with-bulls/

That is a little more than half a max contract.  

Now they say they will offer him a max contract.  Again, remember this is the Bulls/Reinsdorf, I will not believe it until JIMMY says they offered him a max contract.

[GGGG]

Do the Bulls have a history of screwing things like this up? 

They are an aging team in need of some youth.  They aren't dumping a budding young All Star who can defend multiple positions.

[lab_warrior]

+1

Don't under-estimate the Bulls ability to screw this up and drive him into the arms of another team.

Six-months ago the Bulls thought Jimmy was worth $40 mill over 4 years.  Jimmy turned it down.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/28/report-jimmy-butler-turned-down-four-year-40-million-extension-to-stay-with-bulls/

That is a little more than half a max contract. 

Now they say they will offer him a max contract.  Again, remember this is the Bulls/Reinsdorf, I will not believe it until JIMMY says they offered him a max contract.

The bulls could still do something stupid, like firing Thibs or electing not to match.  They have an amazing capacity for stupid.

Absolutely, the Bulls organization just SCREAMS stupid, and screwing things up...

[Tugg Speedman]

Absolutely, the Bulls organization just SCREAMS stupid, and screwing things up...

Ah, living in the past ....  Since 1998, however:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/788127-chicago-bulls-10-worst-personnel-moves-in-recent-team-history

Drafting Eddy Curry
Signing Eddie Robinson
Trading Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler
Signing Ron Mercer
Trading Ron Artest and Brad Miller for Jalen Rose
Drafting Marcus Fizer
Not Keeping Jay Williams off the Bike
Signing Ben Wallace
Choosing Tyrus Thomas over LaMarcus Aldridge
Letting Jamal Crawford Get Away

----------------

Again I'm not saying they WILL screw this up, I'm arguing this organization has a post 1998 history of screwing things up.

[Galway Eagle]

No they won't.  He isn't some kind of beloved figure.

I agree he isn't a beloved figure but a coach who brings the championship back to Chicago or even to the finals getting axed? I don't care if I'm the only one I'll riot by myself!

[GGGG]

I agree he isn't a beloved figure but a coach who brings the championship back to Chicago or even to the finals getting axed? I don't care if I'm the only one I'll riot by myself!

He won't be axed.  It will be a mutual parting.  Neither side is happy with the other.

[Tugg Speedman]

I agree he isn't a beloved figure but a coach who brings the championship back to Chicago or even to the finals getting axed? I don't care if I'm the only one I'll riot by myself!

Jerry Krause was considered a personnel genius when Jordan was winning all those championships.  He even won NBA executive of the year in 1987 and 1995.  Most long-time bulls fans think he was a joke.

Today he is a baseball scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Interesting that a two-time NBA executive cannot find work in basketball anymore.

[GGGG]

Jerry Krause was considered a personnel genius when Jordan was winning all those championships.  He even won NBA executive of the year in 1987 and 1995.  Most long-time bulls fans think he was a joke.

Today he is a baseball scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Interesting that a two-time NBA executive cannot find work in basketball anymore.

20 years ago.  Maybe come up with a more recent example?

[RushmoreAcademy]

Jimmy going to the Bulls was a dream come true. Really hoping he stays.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Ah, living in the past ....  Since 1998, however:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/788127-chicago-bulls-10-worst-personnel-moves-in-recent-team-history

Drafting Eddy Curry
Signing Eddie Robinson
Trading Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler
Signing Ron Mercer
Trading Ron Artest and Brad Miller for Jalen Rose
Drafting Marcus Fizer
Not Keeping Jay Williams off the Bike
Signing Ben Wallace
Choosing Tyrus Thomas over LaMarcus Aldridge
Letting Jamal Crawford Get Away

----------------

Again I'm not saying they WILL screw this up, I'm arguing this organization has a post 1998 history of screwing things up.

Half these things are such hindsight bias thoughts.
Eddie Curry was really good.

The Elton brand trade wasn't the bad one, it was the Chandler trade later.

Wasn't the Bulls fault Fizer couldn't stay healthy

Jay Williams? Cmon, can't blame the bulls for that one

Ben Wallace was a great signing st the time,

Thomas was a much better prospect than Aldridge

and let's not pretend Crawford is some sort of world beater here.

Half of these things weren't preventable, the others just didn't work out. The biggest screw up is the one you didn't mention which was trading Chandler instead of Curry.

[BallBoy]

Ah, living in the past ....  Since 1998, however:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/788127-chicago-bulls-10-worst-personnel-moves-in-recent-team-history

Drafting Eddy Curry
Signing Eddie Robinson
Trading Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler
Signing Ron Mercer
Trading Ron Artest and Brad Miller for Jalen Rose
Drafting Marcus Fizer
Not Keeping Jay Williams off the Bike
Signing Ben Wallace
Choosing Tyrus Thomas over LaMarcus Aldridge
Letting Jamal Crawford Get Away

----------------

Again I'm not saying they WILL screw this up, I'm arguing this organization has a post 1998 history of screwing things up.

If this are their ten worst decisions then they are doing pretty well. You proved once again that you make outlandish comments with nothing to back them up.

They traded Jamal Crawford to the Knicks. Crawford has not been a super star with only 2 sixth man awards to his credit. No titles

Jay Williams was in a bike accident something he had explicitly called out as a cant do in his contract. The Bulls had no control of that and ended up waiving him and draft Kirk H.

Eddie Curry went onto have an 11yr career, though nothing special, and he played for four teams including win a NBA championship. If we count player misses they have far fewer than the Bucks.

Elton Brand was traded as there were rumors he planned to leave anyway.

Chandler has had a 14 yr pro career and took the Bulls to the playoffs in 2004. He has an NBA championship and Allstar game to his name.

I also noticed that none of these events occurred after 2006 so who is living in the past. I think you need to continue to clarify your position in that between 1998 and 2006 the Bulls made some questionable decisions.

Typed in my iPhone so I apologize for the typos.

[buckchuckler]

+1

Don't under-estimate the Bulls ability to screw this up and drive him into the arms of another team.

Six-months ago the Bulls thought Jimmy was worth $40 mill over 4 years.  Jimmy turned it down.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/28/report-jimmy-butler-turned-down-four-year-40-million-extension-to-stay-with-bulls/

That is a little more than half a max contract.  

Now they say they will offer him a max contract.  Again, remember this is the Bulls/Reinsdorf, I will not believe it until JIMMY says they offered him a max contract.

The perception that the bulls/ Reinsdorf are cheap is so wrong it is laughable.